Colin Kaepernick NFL Collusion Lawsuit Is Moving Forward

Colin Kaepernick receives the SI Muhammad Ali Legacy Award during SPORTS ILLUSTRATED 2017 Sportsperson of the Year Show on Dec. 5, 2017, at Barclays Center in New York City. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Sports Illustrated)

Colin Kaepernick’s grievance filed against the NFL for collusion against him is moving forward, sources say, with league attorneys and his exchanging nearly 100,000 documents during the discovery process, according to CBS Sports.

Kaepernick filed the collusion suit in October 2017 after several NFL quarterbacks were injured but no team even asked him to work out with them.

CBS Sports reported lawyers for Kaepernick asked for texts and emails from league and team employees, including some top NFL officials, team coaches, and GMs. The search focused on teams that signed or worked out quarterbacks during the season.

In addition to looking at those teams — Dallas, Baltimore, and Tennessee, for example — the league office also is under scrutiny even though Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated his office is not involved in player signings.

Kaepernick also may examine President Donald Trump’s role in influencing owners and bringing attention to the anthem protests started by Kaepernick, as well as speaking out against Kaepernick himself, CBS Sports reported.

Dates for the deposition phase will be set this winter, with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York, and many others expected to be deposed in the case, CBS Sports reported.

Although few with knowledge of the suit expect Kaepernick to be offered any NFL positions because of it, Business Insider said, some speculate that if the suit is successful it may lead to significan punitive damages for Kaepernick, or even an overturning of the entire current NFL collective bargaining agreement, which is set to remain in place until 2020 and which many feel benefits owners more than players.